Majungataurus

Majungataurus
Majungataurus
Meaning: Short Faced Lizard
Description: large, short-snouted, armored theropod
Species: m. mahajangus
Family: Ceratosauria, Abelisauridae
Length: 30-32 feet
Lifestyle: Hunter and scavenger
Range: Madagascar

Distinguishing Features: The last descendent of Majungasaurus, this large predatory dinosaur is different from its relatives and that its teeth are thicker than those of similar sized abelisaurs and it has a shorter snout and stronger jaws. It uses these adaptations to bring down the local herbivorous crocodiles and stegosaurs, both of which are clad in armor and spikes. Adult males, are a tropical jungle green with black stripes, red wattles and dirty yellow-white underbellies and feet. The larger females are duller and color and have a paler underbelly. Both sexes have prominent scutes and brow horns covering their faces. Adults are monogamous by nature taking a new partner each breeding season, which helps create genetic diversity. Females lay between 10 and 15 eggs of which usually only a third hatch. The un-hatched eggs are then fed to the babies, which emerge relatively blind and undeveloped. By the time they are three years old, the young leave their parents and head out into the jungle to feed and grow on their own. It is then that the adults go their separate ways.

Habits and Habitat: These animals are usually solitary by nature except during the breeding season, when adults come together to raise their young. While the juveniles tend to stay in the jungle, the adults can be found anywhere from the semi-dense jungles to open savanna and scrubland. Much of the prey they take is either as large as or smaller than themselves, but these dinosaurs specialize in taking down armored dinosaurs such as Stegocerastes and the sauropod Malagasisaurus, the latter of which must be attacked using co-operative strategy. A stegosaur on the other hand, can be overcome by a single adult Majungataur, which has the upper hand in maneuverability thanks to its long legs and its ability to leap into the air despite its three-ton bulk. It is able to penetrate the stegosaur’s defenses due to its thick teeth, which are as thick as those on a similar sized tyrannosaur. This allows it not only to bite through thick flesh but also with the help of its powerful jaws, to crush bone. Like their African cousins, they are ferocious and pugnacious and will eat any smaller rival predator that comes too close. Only the biggest carcharodontosaurs are able to drive them off a kill. It is not uncommon to see bigger predators keeping their distance from these vicious tempered beasts at a kill site.


One of the many ugly modern Abelisaurs in my book "Dinosaurs of the Present", this Predator is what was meant to be one of my top predators. this being done on 14X17 means this is life size. the animal here is only a 10 foot juvenile. even some babies are as ugly as their parents in the dinosaur world. Feel free to make your own version of him, but please ask my permission first.